Washington County
Washington County, Maryland, created from Frederick County in 1776, has about 155,813 population size and a total land area of 457.8 square miles. Its largest city, Hagerstown, serves as the seat of power, and the county runs an organized judiciary that includes the Circuit, District, and Orphans' courts.
As the apex court in Washington County, the Circuit Court oversees serious criminal cases like felonies that have a potential punishment of over one year of incarceration. It also has exclusive jurisdiction over civil cases with claims above $30,000. Juvenile and family law cases and appealed cases from the lower courts are also heard by the Washington County Circuit Court. The court hears both jury and non-jury cases.
Washington County's legal system consists of two lower courts, the District and Orphans' Courts. The District Court handles criminal cases, such as misdemeanors and a few felonies. Additionally, its exclusive jurisdiction covers civil matters involving up to $5,000 considerations. It only conducts non-jury trials and may share jurisdiction with the Circuit Court on property transfer cases between $5,000 and $30,000 in claims. On the other hand, the Orphans' Court oversees probate proceedings, such as administration of decedents' estates and guardianship of minors' property.
Each court in Washington County generates court records from documents gathered during case filings and judicial proceedings. These include warrants, affidavits, motions, court orders, and judgments. Court records are typically kept at the courthouses where the cases were heard, and publicly available court records in the county include the following:
- Civil Records
- Family Records
- Criminal Records
- Juvenile Records
- Probate Records
Aside from juvenile records, shielded records, and expunged records, as well as records sealed by court orders, most court records in Washington County are available for public disclosure. Circuit and District Courts' cases may be looked up online through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal. To perform a case search, the case number or a party's name would be required. The Circuit Court's daily dockets maintained by the clerk's office are available online to interested individuals. Paper records of criminal, civil, and family cases may also be obtained from the Clerk of the Circuit Court's office. Individuals seeking other court records in Washington County may contact the courthouses where the cases were filed.
